Temporary Trouble & Eternal Glory

I can't seem to get away from something that I posted a while back. "Our perseverance testifies of the power of the Treasure within us. When others see our troubles overshadowed by the light of His strength shining through us, they are in fact receiving the Good News of Christ." 

While I used II Corinthians 4:8-10 as a text for that post, it is the later portion of the chapter that speaks of the fleeting nature of our afflictions and the eternal nature of the glory that is revealed as we endure them.

In Romans 8:18, the Apostle Paul wrote "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." 

It is the revealed glory of God at work in us that draws others to Him. When they see us suffering in pain without complaint, when they see us bereaved, but putting our feelings aside to comfort someone else, and when they know we are financially strapped and yet we will give to the needy, that is when they see Christ. That is what will draw them to inquire about the source of our strength & compassion. That is when the lost will open their doors to the Gospel.

If the very thought that our malady is temporary is enough to give us a measure of hope; how much more should we be comforted knowing that the Holy Spirit is making intercessions for us.

"So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.We are assured and know that [[j]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." Romans 8:26-28 Amplified Version

" I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit[a] to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again." Acts 20:19 -25 NLT

Still Running with the Vision

This man has driven more miles, visited more inmates, prayed for more patients, worn out more cars, and written more booklets/tracts than anyone I know. And he is a 92 year old man
with his own website: V.V. McCoy Outreach Ministries: Preaching Peace, Perfecting Purpose, & Imparting the Prophetic.
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He has been in full-time ministry as long as I can remember. He has planted churches, pastored many more, and evangelized from one end of Tennessee to the other. He has done mission work and served as a volunteer chaplain. I believe he has been inside of all 600 rooms at Jackson General Hospital; probably several times over. Ask any A/G preacher around here if they know Brother V.V. and they will probably have a story or two to tell you.
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He has dedicated babies, performed wedding ceremonies, and preached funerals and homecomings. He has mentored and sent lay people and ministers alike. He has lived the Word of God and lived it well. And he is still living and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I don't know how much longer he will be on this earth, but I guarantee you he will not quit preaching until he breathes his last breath. It is my prayer that he leaves this life in his sleep, because I know he wouldn't want to be cut off right in the middle of a good text. (smile)
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Please pray for my Great-Uncle V.V. McCoy. His wife of 70 years is now in the nursing home. She has Alzheimers and he could no longer care for her at home. His health too is beginning to wane. He was admitted into the hospital earlier this week. His heart is weak but his mind is still sharp. He quotes the Bible, chapters at a time. Prayers and prophetic words are always on his lips. Just this evening, he prayed for one of his nurses. She said he spoke the very scriptures that she needed to hear.
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I just wanted to give him some roses while he is still living. I thank God for Uncle V.V. and I love him.

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**** Late addition: You can find full copies of his works at this site.

Pink Seasons

Most of you know what's up with the pink ribbon. For those of you who do not, it is for October being breast cancer awareness month. It is a noble deed to raise funds for research and aid to those affected by it. Wearing a pink ribbon is a way to show support for cancer patients and survivors. It is a worthy subject for anyone to post on their blog. Still I hesitate to tell you what it brings to my mind.


You see, I have seen a few pink seasons. I have worked in healthcare for 25+ years. Those seasons just come with the territory. I have lost count of the number of cancer patients that I have met through the years. From acquaintances to my own family members, I have seen the ravages of the disease.

I have an aunt that is a survivor of 20 years or more. She has also survived cervical cancer and numerous skin cancers. She is a real trooper and avid supporter of the cause. The treatment for her breast cancer was a radical mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. However, the cure was found in prayer and reliance on the Lord.

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. To say it was a rough year of treatment is putting it mildly. For her it was surgery, chemo, and radiation. It was getting dressed and going to appointments when she was too weak to even talk. It was pain, tears, and hardship. It was a pink season alright. Every thing was colored by the cancer. Daily activities were limited. Food took on different tastes. Smells made her sick. The times were difficult but not hopeless.

Mama just took it all in stride. She held fast to her faith in God. She was certain that He would put no more on her than she could bear. Though she was off work for most of a year, she was never late paying a bill. There was always food in the pantry and fridge. Many times she had to encourage me that all would be well.

A pink season indeed. I was living 1200 miles away. Married and working full time at the local hospital. My heart ached to be with her 24/7. It just wasn't an option at the time. But thanks to some generous co-workers and a compassionate supervisor I managed to make 6 seven day trips to Tennessee that year. My faith in a loving Savior gave me the strength to do whatever had to be done.

Mama went back to work cancer-free before the year was over. She was blessed to see 3 more years before the cancer returned. Cruel thing, metastatic cancer; it was breast cancer cells, but found in her bones, liver, and brain. Floods of emotion and memories of the previous bout could not keep her down. A stalwart in the faith, she kept her focus on Jesus. She kept the faith and finished her course on August 8, 2001.

Breast cancer took her flesh but it could not take her joy. She traded an earthly home for a heavenly one. As much as I miss her, I will see her again. Yes it is important to promote breast cancer awareness. But it is more important to proclaim Jesus as the cure for the body and soul; to preach a message of hope to all those experiencing a pink season.



Note to my family: If you feel that I was too personal in this post, please forgive me. I just wanted to honor the faith of our family and proclaim the faithfulness of our God.

LCF & My Spiritual Father

Just a little background info related to my 08/10/07 post about the awesome conference I attended in NM. You may remember back in May I posted an e-mail from my father in the ministry. His name is Earl McQuitty and he is the senior pastor of Liberty Christian Fellowship. He is also the vice president of Vision Ministries which is headed by Pastor Wilford Carrasco.



It was springtime 1991. I had just moved to Colorado as a newly wedded transplant from TN. We were looking for a church home. After shopping* around a bit my husband suggested ____ in Aztec, NM. I don't remember the date, but I recall the experience. It was on a Sunday morning and we had arrived for morning worship service. As we crossed the threshold I felt the Presence of God and knew we had found home.



We were welcomed with smiles and hugs. The music was the old-time Pentecostal kind that I had enjoyed all my life. Pastor McQuitty preached the Truth with anointing and fire. We were invited back for the evening service. The only problem was that we lived 60 miles away.



Sister McQuitty said we could stay in the evangelist's quarters for the afternoon if we wanted to stay close until the evening service. We did and that was the beginning of a relationship that has grown dearer as the years have gone by.



We relocated to Aztec and found jobs locally. It wasn't very long before Pastor had put us to work in the church. He recognized God's call on our lives and began to train us in the ministry. Rather than try to sum it up in a post, I'll just list a few events to bring the story current.

• At some point we needed a larger facility and another church needed some folks. We moved to Farmington, NM and merged with another local church.


• This actually happened twice in the 9 years I served under Pastor McQuitty.


• In 1999, my hubby and I moved back to TN. God allowed us to have almost 2 years with my mother before He called her home.


• Every time we have visited w/Pastor, he has offered to bring his truck and trailer to TN. In other words, help us move back to NM.


• He now pastors Liberty Christian Fellowship. He has several ministers on staff as well as a full compliment of teachers, musicians, and singers. He continues to train and equip leaders for today and for the future.
• LCF serves as a mother church to a growing number of churches in Nigeria; where souls are being saved daily and miracles happen every service.

Please remember Pastor McQuitty in your prayers. He has chronic back and foot pain that often hinders his pace. If I have any one earthly person to credit with success in ministry, it is Pastor Earl D. McQuitty.

* shopping is not the same as church hopping. Shoppers have their roots in the Lord and want a place to serve. Hoppers have little roots of any sort.

A Strong Ox

No cattle, no crops; a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
Proverbs 14:4 The Message


There is no mention of the farmer in this verse, neither of the seed or soil quality. The farmer is a given since he is required for the ox and plow to be of any use. The actual soil contents are not mentioned but it's condition is implied. The soil is unbroken, else there would be no need for the plow. The plow is not useful without a beast strong enough to pull it. The farmer and the ox can do little to work the ground without the plow. In order to have a good harvest there must be a farmer, a plow, and an ox.


Again, this is just basic info setting the stage for the spiritual parallel. The amount of time spent on these things would depend on the age group being taught. For this post we will pick out a couple of traits and draw the appropriate conclusions. In a classroom setting, you could use as many or as few as needed to fill the time slot or make the desired points.

It is essential for church workers to be saved. A wild ox is of little value to the farmer until it is domesticated. The first lesson in obedience for the ox is yielding to the farmer's restraint. When a worker in the church struggles against leadership then he jeopardizes the whole work of the church particularly as it relates to the harvest. Consistent commands and disciplines will bring about the desired responses.

Just as the younger ox will often be paired with an older/more experienced one, a new convert in the church should be paired up with a mature saint. Proper lifestyle changes will be brought about by teaching as well as example. Mentors are an indispensable resource for those new in the Kingdom and new to a particular duty within the church.

The tough hide of the ox affords protection from the elements. It can hold up to the wear and tear of the yoke and harness. It is difficult for insects to pierce. When the ox dies, it's hide can still be useful to the farmer. Let me hear your comments on a parallel for this one.

Without strong oxen in the church, there will be no harvest. The pastor can not do it alone. Get in the yoke today and help your pastor pull the plow.

A Warrior's Example

David: the son of Jesse, King of Israel, and man of God.

He was a young lad both sensitive and strong. His days were spent tending his father's sheep and playing upon his harp. He was chosen of the Lord to succeed Saul as king of Israel.ISamuel 16:12,13.
He was described in verse 18 of the same chapter as a cunning musician, a valiant warrior, a prudent man, and handsome to look upon. When Saul was troubled he would call upon him to play.

Recognizing his spirit of excellence, Saul soon appointed him as his personal armor bearer. I Samuel 17 is the account of David and Goliath. It was David's own testimony in verses 34-37 that earned him the right to face the giant. This engagement sealed his enlistment in Saul's army. We read in ISamuel 18:5 that David was successful in every assignment. He then advanced in rank and was entrusted with many men.

This was only the beginning for David. He would later become the King of Israel. He would eventually die and leave the throne to his son Solomon. He would be known throughout all time as a 'man after God's own heart'.

Goliath was not the only giant he encountered. In his lifetime, he faced the wrath of Saul, the treachery of his own son, and the vengeance of the Philistines. All these he overcame through his reliance on God. He even suffered the judgement of God and lived to tell about it. IChronicles 21:15,16

Our opponents come in various forms. Our battles range from brief to daily skirmishes. We fight in physical, mental, and spiritual arenas. We are warriors in every sense of the word. We may lose a battle now and then, but our victory is guaranteed in Christ. We must be like David and face our giants in the strength of the Lord. "Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies." Psalms 60:12